Zinedine Zidane the model for Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi's game

Graham Zusi may not have played in the World Cup, won the Champions League, or been awarded the Ballon d'Or, but if he's going to follow in the footsteps of his childhood idol, all of that could be in the cards someday.

The ascendant star for Sporting Kansas City — and incumbent to Landon Donovan in the US national team midfield — says he has modeled his game on that of Zinedine Zidane, the French superstar who led France to the World Cup title in 1998, spearheaded Real Madrid's Champions League title in 2002, and was picked up the Ballon d'Or in 1998.

"The French maestro," Zusi tells MLSsoccer.com in the Fast & Fluid Player Spotlight video above. "I tried to emulate him as much as possible in my play. He did it all. He was a great finisher and a great passer."